Muslim cleric booked for ‘defaming’ girl who shook hands with Indian minister

KERALA, India: The Indian Police on Sunday booked a local Muslim cleric in north Kerala’s Kozhikode for allegedly insulting a girl, who shook hands with state finance minister Thomas Issac when the latter visited her college.

The cleric said that her act was “highly improper” and against the Sharia law.

Police filed a case against Noushad Ahsani under Section 119 (punishment for atrocities against women) of the Kerala Police Act after the girl complained that the cleric had publically insulted her for shaking hands with the minister.

Issac visited the Markaz Law College in Kerala on August 18 to distribute prizes and during the ceremony the state minister shook hands with some of the award-winning students.

Ahsani showed one of the photographs of her shaking hands with the minister while delivering a speech on how Muslim men and women should conduct themselves in public. The cleric also said it was highly improper on the part of an unmarried woman to do this.

The cleric also criticised the college management for allowing such behaviour on the college campus.

The girl, in her complaint, said that Ahsani circulated the video on social media after his speech.

The girl, a second-year law student, accused the preacher of misrepresenting a noble act with a sexual undertone to malign and defame her.

“We have now booked him under sections pertaining to atrocities against women. We will add more sections after the cyber cell examining the video footage circulated on social media,” said police inspector MT Jacob. Many student organisations also criticised Ahsani’s speech, saying such communally-toned comments can send wrong message.